It always helps if you can identify said dunker. And with Pacers’ reserve forward Josh McRoberts hiding behind that lumberjack beard, you could confuse his mug shot with one of say a hockey player or professional bowler.

Check him out on the floor, though, and it’s clear that he operates in that space above the rim that we all love.

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Now I know we’ve been down this road before; playing the hype game with an exciting dunker and assuming that somehow translates into him being able to perform on the contest stage during All-Star Weekend (you know who you are Shannon Brown and DeMar DeRozan).

But our previous test subjects didn’t have the signature look McRoberts does. The former Duke star (yes, I used those two words together and didn’t make a snide comment) has everything we need, the hops, chops and desire (per a couple of our best spies in Indianapolis).

If we can’t start a grassroots movement for the NBA’s first lumberjack dunker, then we all need to find something else to do with our time.

Check him out and tell me we haven’t stumbled on to the sleeper pick for the 2011 Slam Dunk title (sorry Krypto-Nate):